Suspect accused of using dead man's credit card

A man has been charged with racking up thousands of dollars in charges on a credit card belonging to a DeWitt man found dead in his trailer last week, Syracuse police said.

Syracuse police investigating the credit card charges found the body in a room padlocked from the outside, city Detective Anthony Colavita said this afternoon.

David Lanphere, 51, who police said had no permanent address, was charged Wednesday with two counts of third-degree grand larceny, as well as second-degree forgery and first-degree identity theft, all felonies.

The credit card belonged to Derrick F. Wells, 51, of 407 N. Midler Ave., Lot C-83, said Sgt. Tom Connellan, speaking for Syracuse police. Wells was found dead March 9 in his home at the Foland Trailer Park when Syracuse investigators went there to talk to him about the credit card charges, Connellan said.

DeWitt police said Wells' death had suspicious circumstances, but declined to elaborate.

Wegmans employees told Syracuse police a man purchased more than $20,000 in gift cards on Wells' credit card over a three- to four-week period, Connellan said. After contacting Wells' credit card company, Syracuse police learned about $4,000 to $5,000 in similar purchases at P&C and Price Chopper.